A curriculum for community development in practical theology

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The basic premise of this study is that a curriculum for Theology and Community Development would provide theological institutions with a social purpose in their theological education program. This is necessary for the Church's involvement in social transformation, particularly in the South African context with its alarmingly ever-increasing proportions of unemployment, poverty, violence and crime. The research attempts to provide, as an outcome, theological institutions with a social development purpose by means of curriculum design. The reason for this is based on the conviction that the Church as a community-based organisation, particularly amongst the marginalised poor, can be an effective vehicle for community development. This is due to the Church's Biblical commission and commitment to the poor, its capacity, in terms of resourcefulness, viz. its members and capital, its understanding and experience of social realities and the holistic nature of its activities. The design of the curriculum is aimed at unlocking the Church's resources and building its capacity to become an agent or catalyst for substantial people and societal development. It is presupposed in the study that the Church, although it has a long history of mission and diaconic work, is more and more lacking in capacity to meet the challenges and need of the post-modern society and subsequently cannot effect social transformation - yet it undoubtedly has the potential. The reason for this incapacity can be ascribed to the nature of theological training, which has as a ministerial-formation model a managerial approach to organisation and maintenance of congregational ministry from inside the institutional structure. As the Church finds itself confronted with enormous community needs, the leaders feel inadequate to deal with the demo-crisis of society for there is little in their seminary background that could have prepared them to equip the members for ministries incorporating community development. It is argued in this study, based on an analysis of the Church as a community called by God, the essence of community development and the people-centred participatory development process, that the Church as a community-based organisation is essentially best served in effecting social change by orientating itself according to the people-centred participatory development approach. This approach is embedded in the theoretical assumptions of the Humanitarian school of thought combined with the Social Development school. In theological education a new theological paradigm in which theory re-orientates itself to a new paradigm of humanity is inevitable. According to this paradigm, the Church should align itself with the humanitarian focus of development because development is ultimately about a new vision for society, about a new humanity, empowerment of the people to experience full life as given by God in full respect of creation. Only in developing a theological understanding of development and in assisting to equip people for development, will it be able to answer to its calling - will it continue the process which was started by God in creating the Church as the first fruits of the new humanity. A curriculum for Theology and Community Development, based on the challenges of development, the sources of theology in the teaching tradition of the Church, the realities of the South African context and the principles of the People-centred Participatory Development Approach is designed to empower the Church to be an effective agent and/or catalyst for social transformation, particularly in South Africa.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University